TORONTO — “If not us, who else?” David Clanachan asked the Toronto Sun.

The Canadian Premier League’s head honcho laid out his vision Wednesday afternoon shortly after being unveiled as the CPL’s first commissioner.

The league’s top brass also revealed a target inaugural kick-off date of April 2019.

“How do we continue to grow Canadian talent and develop Canadian talent?” Clanachan continued, adding his enthusiasm for the league is bolstered by its mandate to develop Canadian players, coaches and administrators.

“It’s a big part of what the Canadian Soccer Association and ourselves believe,” the ex-Tim Hortons Canada COO stressed in a sit-down chat at the league’s Toronto office.

Suddenly, a league that began as mere whispers and rumours and behind-the-scenes chatter is picking up steam as the CPL’s stakeholders look to plant seeds in eight to 10 markets Clanachan plans to begin awarding franchises to by the end of next month.

Larson’s piece in Thursday’s Sun.

Hamilton and Winnipeg — both owned and operated by CFL teams in their respective markets — were revealed as flagship franchises last May.

Ownership groups in Halifax, Ottawa, Saskatoon and Calgary appear to be in lead contention to join The Hammer and The Peg. Furthermore, ex-Canadian international and former Toronto FC captain Jim Brennan is rumoured to be in pursuit of a top job with a CPL club in York Region, north of Toronto.

Of the roughly 15 markets that have shown interest in joining the league, Fraser Valley (B.C.), Kitchener-Waterloo (Ont.), Edmonton, Moncton and Mississauga (Ont.) also are believed to be in contention for clubs, though some of the aforementioned markets might not be ready in time for the league’s start date.

The investment from the league’s founders is expected to approach a whopping $500 million over 10 years, Clanachan estimated.

The CPL has opened an unassuming headquarters on King St. E. in downtown Toronto. (Google Maps)

“We’ve got tremendous interest from the communities we’re into,” Clanachan said. “Some (markets) are farther along because they’ve been involved in this journey longer than others. This has been going on for a couple of years now.”

Additional details have yet to be confirmed, but Clanachan expects a six-month season sans playoffs, the winner of which will receive automatic entry into the CONCACAF Champions League. An additional CCL spot will be awarded to the Canadian Championship winner, giving Canada two entries into the tournament.

The league is also expected to implement some version of a “Local Content” rule to ensure clubs employ and roster a yet to be determined number of Canadians on the field and bench.

“That’s a big deal for us,” Clanachan said. “We are having discussions around this idea of ‘Canadian Content’ and mandating that. (Ownership) understands the importance of developing Canadian soccer and taking it to the next level.”

The CPL’s flagship franchise in Hamilton will play at Tim Hortons Field. (Handout)

The unanswered question, though, is how the league will be received by Canadians, many of which already support MLS or European clubs.

Clanachan’s response: “The stars are aligned on this.”

He points to Canada’s quantifiable demographics, pointing out there are more Timbits soccer players than equivalent youth hockey players in 2018.

The father-of-five added his teenage son’s knowledge of the game is exponentially greater compared to where he was growing up, in part because of technology gains that have made the game more accessible.

“All of that has taken the game here and exploded it,” he added.

Clanachan tipped his hat to MLS, despite acknowledging it as a competitor.

“I admire what they’ve done,” he explained. “The problem is it’s only three Canadian cities. They’ve made it very clear: The MLS is an American league.”

Additional challenges include TV deals and rights. Clanachan didn’t rule out entering the CPL’s inaugural season without a broadcast deal in place.

“That whole world has changed,” he responded. “Today it’s a different world. You have your traditional broadcast opportunities, but there are a lot of other broadcast opportunities out there. I think a blend of the two could be a solution.

“We’ve got guys who understand that part and understand how to deal with that.”

The league hasn’t yet started and Clanachan said he’s already dreaming of a fully stacked Canadian top flight above a second and third division.

“What you’d love to get into is the opportunity to create that promotion-relegation piece,” Clanachan added. “That’s something unique about soccer across the globe.”

Until then, the league’s executive members are plucking from a list of prospective markets that includes ownership groups from all but one non-Maritime province. News is expected to flow beginning next month.

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